Roberto Carlos will prevent Cristiano Ronaldo from retiring

Facing speculation about retiring at 41, Cristiano Ronaldo got a firm call from legendary Roberto Carlos to continue competing to achieve the 1,000-goal landmark.

The football world is abuzz with speculation about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al Nassr.

At 41 years old, despite maintaining an impressive scoring rate, off-field tensions and a shortage of quality players in the Saudi club have led many to believe that the Portuguese superstar’s retirement is imminent. However, Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos holds a completely different view.

In an interview with O Jogo, the former Real Madrid left-back made a powerful statement. He asserted he would personally intervene if his junior decided to stop playing:

“Cristiano must never stop. If one day Ronaldo chooses to quit football, I will call him and ask him not to.”

For Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo’s value goes beyond goals; it lies in his iconic influence. He emphasized: “Ronaldo is the kind of player whose significance extends beyond the pitch, from clubs and national teams to young boys and aspiring players.”

Because of his iron discipline and ever-burning positive energy, Carlos believes age is no barrier. He even used very strong words to urge: “Ronaldo should never stop playing, even if he has only one leg or has to crawl on the field.”

Currently, Ronaldo has scored 961 official goals, just a short distance away from the historic 1,000-goal milestone. At Al Nassr, he continues to deliver a devastating performance with 117 goals in 133 matches.

Roberto Carlos believes Ronaldo’s “solid physique” and absolute professionalism will soon place him alongside “King of Football” Pelé — the only player officially recognized to have reached 1,000 goals (including friendlies).

Beyond personal achievements, Carlos also places great faith in Ronaldo leading Portugal at the 2026 World Cup. He praises the team’s balance under the new coach and even dreams of a dream final between Brazil and Portugal.

Amid the noise about Ronaldo missing recent matches to protest Al Nassr’s policies, Roberto Carlos’s statement serves as a firm defense of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s status. For the football world, Ronaldo continuing to play is not just about chasing records but also about keeping the spirit alive for future generations.